Bognor Regis Town 2-2 Stevenage

July 26, 2008 Leave a Comment

Boro went 2-0 up thanks to goals from Craig Westcarr and Lee Boylan in their latest pre-season friendly down at Bognor Regis, but goals from Duncan Jupp and ex Yeovil winger Gavin McCullum levelled things at Nyewood Lane.

Westcarr opened the scoring on 6 minutes after cutting inside and shooting past the Rocks goalkeeper. After 20 minutes it was two when Lee Boylan opened his Boro account, heading in a corner. Boro though couldn’t hold on to their lead and Bognor halved the deficit when a James Russell goal kick only found it’s way to a Bognor player who was subsequently brought down just outside the area. From the resulting free-kick ex-Wimbledon defender Duncan Jupp shot into the bottom corner. Bognor continued to threaten and just before half time they equalised with ex Yeovil and Weymouth winger Gavin McCullum finding the net.

At half time Graham Westley brought on Calum Willock for his first game of pre-season after injury. He replaced Jerome Anderson, but couldn’t find the net in the 45 minutes he played. Bognor continued to make chances against a Boro side who looked tired with most of them only playing Hendon on Thursday night as well as some who also appeared against Wycombe. Boro have a bit of a break now with their next game at Meadow Park against Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.

Boro team: Russell, Bradshaw, Laird, Oliver, Wilson, Balderson, Drury, Bridges, Anderson, Boylan, Westcarr
Subs: L Cole, Buchanan, Willock, Brinkman, Bostwick, Burke

Elsewhere in today’s pre-season friendlies, Rushden beat Peterborough United 2-1 at Nene Park. Goals coming from Jon Challinor and new signing Dean McDonald. Peter Taylor’s Wycombe were also in action again today and they went down 2-1 to Blue Square South side Chelmsford. Ex Boro midfielder Ollie Berquez opened the scoring for the Essex side. Crawley lost at home against a youthful Arsenal XI. Kieran Gibbs getting the only goal of the game. Finally, Cambridge were beaten 3-1 at home by Coventry City. The U’s were 3-0 down until Ben Farrell scored from the penalty spot.

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Boro 1-2 Wycombe

July 26, 2008 Leave a Comment

Boro lost their third home game in a row against league opposition after tonight’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Peter Taylor’s Wycombe Wanderers. Boro welcomed back Ashley Bayes in goal, while Steve Morison returned to partner Anthony Thomas up front. Wycombe started in a 4-3-3 formation, but Taylor opted to leave former Boro loanee Gavin Grant on the bench. New signing Nathan Ashton came on after the break.

Boro started the better and were in front within 7 minutes after Anthony Thomas ran onto a throw by Steve Morison and fired Boro in to the lead. The partnership between the front two of Morison and Thomas has arguably been the biggest plus point of pre-season so far. They seem to have developed an undertanding very quickly and compliment each other on the pitch. Daryl McMahon had a free-kick saved well by Wanderers keeper Scott Shearer after 20 minutes as Boro continued to impress. Thomas was lively all evening and the Wycombe defence couldn’t seem to handle his threat in the first half at all.

Taylor and Wycombe made changes in the second half and within minutes they had worked after Chris Zebroski had equalised for Wanderers. Zebroski, who always seems to score against us, rounded Bayes before putting the ball into the net. It wasn’t long after the Zebroski goal that Wycombe were ahead. Gavin Grant put midfielder Rice through who had his shot well saved, but Scott McGleish was on hand to hammer in the rebound. Within the space of 8 minutes, Wycombe’s improved fitness had made the difference.

Midway through the second half Westley began to make some changes. Boylan came on for the again impressive Thomas and Jerome Anderson replaced Steve Morison after the ex Oxford striker impressed after scoring 2 goals in the 4-1 win over Hendon on Thursday. Trialist Scott Barron also made another appearance coming on for Scott Laird. Barron is an ex Ipswich trainee who has also had a spell at Millwall. I assume GW has brought him in to see if he is good enough to challenge for Laird’s position at left back. At the moment that position is the only one that looks like it will be strengthened before the start of the season.

So another defeat against league opposition at home, but Boro’s performance in the first half would of pleased Graham Westley. Although Wycombe didn’t play well in the first 45, Boro looked much more livelier than what they did on Tuesday night against Peterborough. Next up for Boro is Bognor Regis, away, tomorrow afternoon. It will be a similar team to that what beat Hendon at Vale Farm on Thursday night.

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